Decorative ear enhancement article

ABSTRACT

A decorative ear enhancement article and a method of installing and retaining the article on an ear are provided. The article has an integrated body with a relatively thin curved support portion shaped to be fitted behind an ear of a user and concealed by the ear when the article is worn and a decorative portion extending from an end of the curved support portion for placement in front of the ear and visible when the article is worn. The decorative portion cooperates with the curved support portion to retain the integrated body on the ear and keep the curved support portion behind the ear. The decorative portion has a floating appearance without apparent support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved decorative ear enhancement article and method for installing and retaining the article on an ear of a user. In particular, the invention concerns an article which can be comfortably and securely worn on an ear and a method for affixing the article on the ear.

[0002] The present invention provides an alternative to conventional types of earwear. Instead of piercing or pinching the ear lobe, the applicant has discovered that the natural shape of the ear can provide a comfortable support for earwear. Furthermore, the decorative ear enhancement article is suitable for males and females. Although earwear securable behind the ear is known, the present invention provides a construction which demonstrates improved stability on the ear so as to help prevent the earwear from becoming dislodged from the ear.

[0003] Moreover, the decorative ear enhancement article is constructed in such a manner that, when the article is worn, a viewer is given the impression that a portion of the article is floating unsupported in front of the ear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved decorative ear enhancement article which is comfortably and securely worn. A further object of the invention is to provide a method of installing and retaining such earwear on the ear. The above objects are realized by the decorative ear enhancement article and method of the present invention.

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a decorative ear enhancement article having an integrated body. The integrated body includes a relatively thin curved support portion shaped to be fitted behind an ear of a user and concealed by the ear when the article is being worn and a decorative portion extending from an end of the curved support portion for placement in front of the ear and visible when the article is being worn. The decorative portion cooperates with the curved support portion to retain the integrated body on the ear and keep the curved support portion behind the ear. The integrated body is constructed to provided a floating appearance of the decorative portion without apparent support.

[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there also is provided a method of installing and retaining a decorative ear enhancement article on an ear, the article having an integrated body including a relatively thin curved support portion shaped to be fitted behind the ear and a decorative portion extending from an end of the curved support portion for placement in front of the ear. The method includes grasping the integrated body and situating the body on the ear of a user so as to position the curved support portion behind the ear and hook the decorative portion in front of the ear so that the curved support portion is concealed by the ear and the decorative portion is visible, whereby the decorative portion appears to float in front of the ear without apparent support; and retaining the integrated body on the ear without forming holes in the ear or clamping the lobe of the ear by making the curved support member flexible and extend behind the ear while the decorative portion extends in front of the ear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment a decorative ear enhancement article constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 1 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a front view of a variation on the decorative ear enhancement article shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 5;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 5 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0015]FIG. 9 is a front view of a further variation on the decorative ear enhancement article shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 10 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 9.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 9;

[0018]FIG. 12 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 9 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0019]FIG. 13 is a front view of a further variation on the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 14 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 13;

[0021]FIG. 15 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 13;

[0022]FIG. 16 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 13 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0023]FIG. 17 is a front view of a further variation on the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 18 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 17;

[0025]FIG. 19 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 17;

[0026]FIG. 20 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 17 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0027]FIG. 21 is a front view of a further variation on the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 1;

[0028]FIG. 22 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 21;

[0029]FIG. 23 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 21;

[0030]FIG. 24 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 21 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0031]FIG. 25 is a front view of a second embodiment of an decorative ear enhancement article constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 26 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 25;

[0033]FIG. 27 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 25;

[0034]FIG. 28 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 25 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0035]FIG. 29 is a front view of a variation on the decorative ear enhancement article shown in FIG. 25;

[0036]FIG. 30 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 29;

[0037]FIG. 31 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 29;

[0038]FIG. 32 is a further view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 29 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear;

[0039]FIG. 33 is a front view of a third embodiment of an decorative ear enhancement article constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0040]FIG. 34 is a rear view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 33;

[0041]FIG. 35 is a side view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 33; and

[0042]FIG. 36 is a further front view of the decorative ear enhancement article of FIG. 33 showing the decorative ear enhancement article affixed on an ear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a decorative ear enhancement article constructed to be affixed on an ear. Although shown to fit a left ear, the decorative ear enhancement article is readily constructed to fit a right ear. Similar elements for different embodiments and variations thereof will have the same reference numeral with different suffixes appended thereto.

[0044] In FIGS. 1-4, the article la includes a curved support portion 3 a for affixing the article la behind ear 2. A decorative portion 4 a, comprises a short vertical member and is continuous with the curved support portion 3 a. The decorative portion 4 a hooks around the top of the ear 2. When the article la is worn, the portion 4 a is disposed adjacent the front of the ear 2 and cooperates with the curved support portion 3 a to secure the article 1 a on the ear 2. In this variation, decorative portion 4 a includes ornamental member 6 a affixed thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, when the article la is worn, the curved support portion 3 a is hidden by the ear. Only decorative portion 4 a, including ornamental member 6 a, is visible.

[0045] The decorative ear enhancement article lb shown in FIGS. 5-8 includes curved support portion 3 b and decorative portion 4 b. This article, however, includes a short extension 7 extending from curved support portion 3 b between the ends thereof. Curved support portion 3 b, including extension 7, may be provided with loop elements 8 for suspending ornaments 9. Curved support portion 3 b, including extension 7 and loop elements 8, is hidden behind ear 2 (and the hair of the wearer) so that only decorative portion 4 b and the dangling ornaments 9 are visible without apparent support when the article is worn.

[0046] In yet a further variation on the first embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 9-12, decorative portion 4 c is not truncated as described above but extends across the front of the ear 2. This article 1 c also includes a further decorative portion 10 c having a circular shape. The further decorative portion 10 c is affixed to an end of curved support portion 3 c opposite that end from which decorative portion 4 c extends. Decorative portion 10 c, is adapted to be positioned over the ear lobe 5. In this variation, when the article is worn, both the top of the ear and the ear lobe are positioned between curved support portion 3 c and the decorative portions 4 c, 10 c. Again, curved support portion 3 c is hidden from view when the article 1 c is worn, while decorative portions 4 c and 10 c are visible to the viewer, appearing to float unsupported in front of ear 2.

[0047] FIGS. 13-16 represent another variation on the article of the first embodiment of the invention. Curved support portion 3 d is hidden from view and decorative portion 4 d extends partly across ear 2. In this article Id, hidden curved support portion 3 d includes decorative extensions 1 Id which project outwardly from behind ear 2 and are thus visible to the viewer along with decorative portion 4 d when the article is worn.

[0048] In the variation illustrated in FIGS. 17-20, decorative portion 4 e is continuous with ornamental member 6 e (in the form of a vine) which extends partly across ear 2. Decorative portion 10 e extends from member 3 e and engages ear lobe 5. Again, when the article is worn, curved support portion 3 e is hidden from view and the viewer has the impression that the decorative portions 4 e, 10 e are floating unsupported in front of ear 2.

[0049] FIGS. 21-24 illustrate decorative ear enhancement article If, a further variation of the first embodiment of the invention, where decorative portion 4 f has a substantially square shape. Nevertheless, decorative portion 4 f may have any shape as long as it possesses a sufficient degree of verticality to hook over the front of ear 2 to stabilize the article If on ear 2. At the opposite end of curved support portion 3 f, decorative portion 10 f, which is continuous with curved support portion 3 f and which mirrors the shape of decorative portion 4 f, extends across ear lobe 5.

[0050] A decorative ear enhancement article constructed according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 25-28. In article 1 g, decorative portion 12 g is affixed to one end of the curved support portion 3 g. When the article 1 g is installed on ear 2 of the user, the top of ear 2 is positioned between curved support portion 3 g and decorative portion 12 g. Decorative portion 12 g extends substantially horizontally across the top of ear 2 at the front thereof. The decorative portion 12 g shown has a bar shape but may be any shape that can extend substantially horizontally across the top of ear 2 and cooperate with curved support portion 3 g to secure the article on ear 2. A further decorative portion 10 g, which is similar in shape to decorative portion 12 g, is continuous with the opposite end of curved support portion 3 g and is disposed across ear lobe 5. Only decorative portions 12 g and 10 g are visible when the article 1 g is worn.

[0051] Decorative ear enhancement article 1 h of FIGS. 29-32 is similar to the previous variation of the first embodiment but the figures illustrate that decorative portion 12 h need not be bar-shaped. This article 1 h also includes further decorative portion 10 h which is positioned on ear lobe 5 when the article 1 h is worn. Decorative extension 11 h extends outwardly from curved support portion 3 h. When the decorative ear enhancement article 1 h is installed on ear 2, only decorative portions 10 h and 12 h and extension 11 h are visible.

[0052] In the third embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 33-36, article 1 i includes both a generally vertically extending decorative portion 4 i and a generally horizontally extending decorative portion 12 i.

[0053] The decorative ear enhancement article of the invention is constructed of materials such as metal wire, including gold or silver wire, which are sufficiently flexible to permit the article to be adapted to the individual ear, and to facilitate placement on the ear. The materials should be lightweight for comfort, particularly where ornaments are suspended.

[0054] From the above, it is seen that a decorative ear enhancement article (1 a-1 i) has been provided. The article is an integrated body including a relatively thin curved support portion (3 a-3 i) shaped to be fitted behind an ear of a user and concealed by the ear when the article is worn and a decorative portion (4 a-4 i; 12 a-12 i) extending from an end of said curved support portion (3 a-3 i) for placement in front of the ear and visible when the article is worn. The decorative portion (4 a-4 i; 12 a-12 i) cooperates with the curved support portion (3 a-3 i) to retain the integrated body on the ear to keep the curved support portion (3 a-3 i) behind the ear. The integrated body is constructed to provide a floating appearance of the decorative portion (4 a-4 i; 12 a-12 i) without apparent support.

[0055] While particular modifications of the various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that further variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A decorative ear enhancement article comprising an integrated body including a relatively thin curved support portion shaped to be fitted behind an ear of a user and concealed by the ear when the article is worn and a decorative portion extending from an end of said curved support portion for placement in front of the ear and visible when the article is worn, said decorative portion cooperating with said curved support portion to retain the integrated body on the ear and keep said curved support portion behind the ear, and said integrated body being constructed to provided a floating appearance of the decorative portion without apparent support.
 2. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein said integrated body is constructed to be sufficiently flexible to be fitted and retained on the ear without forming holes in the ear or clamping a lobe of the ear.
 3. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein said decorative portion extends from an upper end of said curved support portion and extends in front of the ear.
 4. The decorative article of claim 3, wherein said decorative portion comprises a generally vertically extending member for placement alongside the front of the ear, said generally vertically extending member being of sufficient length to retain the curved support portion on the back of the ear, and said generally vertically extending portion being visible when the article is worn.
 5. The decorative article of claim 3, wherein said decorative portion comprises a generally horizontally extending member for placement across the top of the front of the ear, said generally horizontally being of sufficient length to retain the curved support portion on the back of the ear and said generally horizontally extending member being visible when the article is worn.
 6. The decorative article of claim 4, wherein said generally vertically extending member comprises a relatively thin truncated extension of said curved support portion, said thin extension being visible when the article is worn.
 7. The decorative article of claim 4, wherein said decorative portion includes an ornamental member adjoining said vertical member for positioning over the front of the ear, said vertical member and said ornamental member being visible when the article is worn.
 8. The decorative article of claim 7, wherein said ornamental member has a polygonal shape.
 9. The decorative article of claim 7, wherein said ornamental member has an amorphic shape.
 10. The decorative article of claim 4, wherein said generally vertically extending member is of polygonal form.
 11. The decorative article of claim 10, wherein the polygonal form is a rectangle.
 12. The decorative article of claim 4, wherein the generally vertically extending member comprises a relatively thin extension of said curved support portion, and said relatively thin extension extends vertically for a distance and then across the front of the ear when the article is worn.
 13. The decorative article of claim 5, wherein the generally horizontally extending portion has a polygonal shape.
 14. The decorative article of claim 5, wherein the generally horizontally extending portion has an amorphic shape.
 15. The decorative article of claim 5, wherein the decorative portion further includes a relatively thin generally vertically extending member which is continuous with said curved support portion and which cooperates with said generally horizontally extending member to retain said integrated body on the ear and keep said curved support portion behind the ear when the article is worn.
 16. The decorative article of claim 1, including a further decorative portion extending from the opposite end of the said curved support portion for placement over the front of an ear lobe, such that the ear lobe is positioned between the curved support member and the further decorative portion and said decorative portions are visible when the article is worn.
 17. The decorative article of claim 16, wherein the further decorative portion has a polygonal shape.
 18. The decorative article of claim 16, wherein the further decorative portion has an amorphic shape.
 19. The decorative article of claim 16, wherein the further decorative portion comprises a relatively thin extension of said curved support portion joined to a further ornamental member.
 20. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein said curved support member has a reverse C shape.
 21. The decorative article of claim 1, including a relatively thin extension extending from said curved support member between said ends of said support member and concealed by the ear of the user and/or hair of the user when the article is worn, said relatively thin extension comprising means for suspending an ornament therefrom, said ornament being visible when the article is worn.
 22. The decorative article of claim 1, including an extension from said curved support member, said extension comprising an ornamental member extending from a position between said ends of said support member, said ornamental member being visible when the article is worn.
 23. The decorative article of claim 1, wherein said decorative portion is positioned entirely outside the opening in the ear when the article is worn.
 24. A method of installing and retaining a decorative ear enhancement article on an ear, the article comprising an integrated body including a relatively thin curved support portion shaped to be fitted behind the ear and a decorative portion extending from an end of said curved support portion for placement in front of the ear, said method comprising: grasping the integrated body and situating said body on the ear of a user so as to position said curved support portion behind the ear and hook the decorative portion in front of the ear so that said curved support portion is concealed by the ear and said decorative portion is visible, whereby the decorative portion appears to float in front of the ear without apparent support; and retaining said integrated body on the ear without forming holes in the ear or clamping the lobe of the ear by making said curved support member flexible and extend behind the ear while said decorative portion extends in front of the ear.
 25. The method of claim 24, comprising positioning said decorative portion so as to be entirely outside the opening in the ear when the article is worn.
 26. The method of claim 24, comprising extending said decorative portion from an upper end of said curved support portion in front of the ear when the article is worn.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said decorative portion comprises a generally vertically extending member for placement alongside the front of the ear, said generally vertically extending member being of sufficient length to retain the curved support portion on the back of the ear and said generally vertically extending portion being visible when the article is worn.
 28. The method of claim 26, comprising forming said decorative portion as a generally horizontally extending member for placement across the top of the front of the ear, and providing said generally horizontally extending member with sufficient length to retain the curved support portion on the back of the ear with a portion of the top of the ear positioned between the curved support portion and the decorative portion and said generally horizontally extending member being visible when the article is worn.
 29. The method of claim 27, comprising forming said generally vertically extending member as a relatively thin truncated extension of said curved support portion which is visible when the article is worn.
 30. The method of claim 27, comprising forming said decorative portion as an ornamental member adjoining said vertical member for positioning over the front of the ear, so that said vertical member and said ornamental member are visible when the article is worn.
 31. The method of claim 27, comprising forming the generally vertically extending member as a relatively thin extension of said curved support portion, with said relatively thin extension extending vertically for a distance and then extending across the front of the ear so that said thin extension is visible when the article is worn.
 32. The method of claim 24, comprising forming said integrated body with a further decorative portion and extending said further decorative portion from the opposite end of said curved support portion for placement over the front of the ear lobe, so that the ear lobe is positioned between the curved support member and the further decorative portion and said decorative portions are visible when the article is worn.
 33. The method of claim 32, comprising forming the further decorative portion as a relatively thin extension of said curved support portion joined to a further ornamental member.
 34. The method of claim 24, comprising forming said curved support member in a reverse C shape.
 35. The method of claim 28, comprising providing a relatively thin generally vertically extending member which is continuous with said curved support portion and which cooperates with said generally horizontally extending member to retain the curved support portion on the back of the ear when the article is worn. 